Page 19 of Love Grows

* * *

“Thanks for the movie,”Steph said as she hauled off her helmet outside her apartment building.

I leant back against my bike. “You’re totally welcome. It was even a good movie which was a bonus because sometimes reviews can be diametrically opposed to the actual film content.”

Steph grinned. “Do you want to come up and…?

Gah. I hated when that question in particular faded off because I knew the ‘and’ was always going to be sensational and out of reach and the amount of yearning I was experiencing made the ‘and’ full of potential.

“Um, I better get going. We’ve got an early morning delivery and I need to be there to sign it off.”

It was a weak excuse, but I wasn’t ready to let Steph know that I would be an enthusiastic participant if we’d decided on the ‘and’.

Steph’s face fell a little, which sucked because I guess she was all about the ‘and’ as well. But then she stepped forward. Close enough for me to see the sparkle in her eyes from the street light.

“Well, thank you again. I’ll see you tomorrow at nine.” She leaned down a little, and I truly thought she was going for a cheek kiss. Sensible, rational, first-date-platonic cheek kiss. So I moved my head infinitesimally to catch it, but I moved the wrong way and our lips touched for one brief moment.

Explosions.

Oh, yum.

Oh, shit.

I pulled back. “Sorry. That was…”

“No, sorry. I didn’t…”

We stared at each other, then laughed.

“Goodnight, Angel. Now stay still this time.” Steph gave a singular soft huff-chuckle then kissed my cheek and my entire forty-year-old body broke into goosebumps.

“Bye,” she whispered, then walked up the short footpath to the entrance, scanned a card, and turned and waved.

* * *

Workthe next day was a funny mixture of smiles that recognised each other and blushes that saw right through our blasé and pedestrian conversations. Because We Were Not Going To Mention That Kiss.

“It wasn’t even a kiss, for Christ’s sake. It was a mere brushing of lips,” I muttered.

Which is generally known as a kiss.

Oh my god.

ChapterSix

The Moreton Bay Fig

(Ficus macrophylla)

An enormous tree with a canopy up to twenty metres wide. If growing one from seed, the Moreton bay fig tree should not be planted in the ground. This tree is very aggressive and its roots can cause a lot of damage. It is perfect for bonsai due to its aggressive growth and ability to be trunk-braided.

Steph was a natural with the customers. She really listened to their needs and wants regarding the plant, where the plant was going, or what the plant was for. That last one was important. I believed in plants having a purpose besides filling an empty corner or sitting on a window sill. Plants could heal. Sometimes they were the reason for a person to stay put on earth.

It sounded all a bit philosophical but both Lucas and Kahlia had jumped on board with my thinking. And now so had Steph. My heart warmed.

Mr G was delivering our homemade hamburgers for lunch—additional pineapple and beetroot for me. Steph’s level of wide-eyed appall at my additions made me laugh.

“You’re ridiculously Australian,” she said, still staring at my creation.

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